Modern Wisdom #823 - Dr Jonathan Anomaly - Is It Ethical To Hand-Pick Your Child’s Genes?
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Aug 10, 2024 Dr. Jonathan Anomaly, a philosopher and expert in genetic ethics, dives into the contentious waters of genetic selection. He discusses the moral dilemmas of choosing traits for children and how this could reshape society. Anomaly critiques the historical misuse of IQ testing and its implications on discrimination. He explores societal divides arising from genetic advantages, raising ethical concerns about embryo selection, intelligence, and health. Their conversation also touches on the cultural impact of declining birth rates and the future of genetic engineering.
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Dislike of IQ Discussions
- Many dislike IQ discussions due to post-WWII norms against genetic explanations for group differences.
- This was a reaction to the misuse of IQ to justify discriminatory policies, like restrictive immigration.
IQ Test Validity and Correlations
- Early IQ tests had cultural biases, but modern tests reliably gauge general cognitive ability.
- IQ correlates with education, income, marital stability, addiction, and criminality.
IQ and Desirability
- Many positive traits correlate with IQ, creating a perception of high-IQ individuals as more desirable.
- This raises ethical concerns about valuing people based on IQ and blurs the line between better and worse.